Pri"or (?), a. First, precedent, or
superior in the order of cognition, reason or generality, origin,
development, rank, etc.
Pri"or (?), a. [L. prior former,
previous, better, superior; compar. corresponding to primus
first, and pro for. See Former, and cf. Prime,
a., and Pre-, Pro-.] Preceding in
the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as, a
prior discovery; prior obligation; -- used elliptically
in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior
to his marriage.
Pri"or, n. [OE. priour, OF.
priour, prior, priur, F. prieur, from L.
prior former, superior. See Prior, a.]
(Eccl.) The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot
in dignity.
Conventical, or Conventual,
prior, a prior who is at the head of his own
house. See the Note under Priory. -- Claustral
prior, an official next in rank to the abbot in a
monastery; prior of the cloisters.
Pri"or (?), a. First, precedent, or
superior in the order of cognition, reason or generality, origin,
development, rank, etc.
